National Road Victim Month: A Time for Remembrance and Road Safety Awareness
This month is National Road Victim Month. Every August, this provides an opportunity for remembrance of those who have been killed or seriously injured on our roads and to recognise the lasting impact road collisions have.
They are sudden and life-changing not only for the victims but also their families, friends and communities. Road collisions are often referred to as accidents but the fact remains that almost all of them are preventable and so National Road Victim Month is also a time to raise awareness of the importance of road safety.
On average, someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads every 17 minutes which is a stark reminder of how much work is still needs to be done to keep everyone safe on the roads.
It also needs to be remembered that behind this shocking statistic are thousands of people who have had their lives turned upside down in an instant and are now having to deal with bereavement, catastrophic injury, trauma, financial pressure and a loss of independence on top of having to navigate police investigations, the coronial process and insurance and legal claims.
What can you do?
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and there are many steps you can take to reduce risk and protect yourself and other road users such as:
- Driving within the speed limit
- Not using your mobile phone when driving
- Never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Allowing enough space for cyclists and pedestrians
- Staying alert to vulnerable road users
- Using designated crossing points if you are a pedestrian
- Wearing reflective clothing if walking/riding at night
- Not turning off safety features such as lane-keeping assistance or reversing cameras/sensors
Another way to get involved is via charities such as Brake who not only provide vital support to those affected by road collisions through their National Road Victim Service but also tirelessly campaign for change with a vision of a world with zero road death or injury.
They are working to change legislation and government policy on issues including zero-tolerance to drink driving, default 20mph speed limits on all roads in built-up areas across the UK, graduated driving licences to protect young and newly qualified drivers and for all new vehicles to have life-changing technology fitted as standard.
Proper post-crash support is vital for road victims and their loved ones and at Hodge Jones & Allen we are proud to support Brake in their work to provide this for as many people as possible.
However you are spending your summer, we invite you to take some time this August to remember and offer support to those affected by road collisions and also to raise awareness of road safety measures that could save lives in the future.
Take a moment this August to support those affected by road collisions and to help raise awareness of the road safety measures that can prevent future harm. If you have been involved in a road traffic collision and require legal representation or guidance, our specialist team is here to assist you. To speak to one of our personal injury lawyers, please call 0330 822 3451 or request a callback.